Motor fuel



Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

UNITED STA Io Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

T'ES PATENT orrics.

. YASUJUBO NIKAIDO, OF ROSSFORD, OHIO.

MOTOR FUEL.

Application filed July 9, 1925. Serial No. 42,587.

dimethyl acetal,

Be it known that YASUJURO NIKAIDo,

citizen of Japan, residing at Rossford, in the county of Wood and State of Ohio, has I invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor Fuels, of which the following is a specification.

y lnventlon relates to motor fuels.

More specifically, it relates to the production of an improved hydrocarbon motor fuel possessing among other properties that of accelerating ignition.

I have discovere fuel.

ly formal do not require any blending agent and in addition confer other beneficial qualities on the fuel as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out.

Examples 0 d that a highly advantageous water fuel may be formed by mixing a hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbon derivative with a small proportion of an ether adapted to accelerate ignition of the fuel and which does not require a blending agent to incorporate it with the other constituents of the f dialkyl ethers which may be added to hydrocarbons are:

. Formal or methylal,

cHI OCHg diethyl formal or methylene diethyl ether acetal,

CIT:

CH:CH

OCHr

OCgH

ification cance.

tageous.

Mixtures with my igmtlon accelerator have been trled out 111 practice and found to be very advan- Glycol compounds, for example, the glycol ethers, such as glycol methylene acetal and glycol diethyl ether which is an isomer of acetal are also suitable. The glycol ethers containing two alkoxy radicals for example, OC H may be included under the term dialkyl ethers and it is desired that this term as used in the specand claims be given this signifiof hydrocarbon colnpounds In general, in making up the motor fuel for use, four fluid ounces of the ignition accelerator are mixed with ten gallons of the hydrocarbon, for example, gasoline. This proportion makes approximately three parts by volume of the ignition accelerator to one' thousand parts by volume of gasoline. Other mixtures have been tried containing from one to six parts of the ignition accelerator to one thousand parts of the hydrocarbon,

such as gasoline. sults, however, ing three parts present in one thousand parts of the hydrocarbon.

The most satisfactoryl rehave been obtained by avof the ignition accelerator The following experiments were carried out with the mixtures stated:

A Dodge sedan, 1918 model was tested in cold weather using straight gasoline. The following results were obtained:

1. It was noted that it started with dif- 2. The choker had to be pulled out all the time while running.

3. The machine could not be throttled down to less than six to seven miles per hour without jolting.

4:. One of two cylinders were missing exoding. Using the same gasoline with three parts following results were noted:

1. That the machine started readily even though the weather was cold.

2. The choker could be left pushed in as far as it would go while the machine was running.

3. A large amount of old soot or carbon was blown out through the exhaust, this signifying that the new fuel had the effect of cleaning the fouled engine cylinders with carbon.

4. After driving the machine for a mile, all the cylinders were hitting. This was undoubtedly due to a cleaner engine.

5. The machine could be slowed down until the speedometer indicated a speed of less than one mile without the slightest jolting.

My improved fuel was tested in a very old Will s-Knight coup. The ignition in this machine was performed by a magneto as there was no battery.

Using strai ht gasoline is was noted that:

1. The mac e started with difliculty in cold weather.

2. The choker had to be pulled out all the time the engine was running. If the choker was pushed in, the engine back-fired badly.

3. The machine could not be slowed down to less than ten miles per hour without badly jolting and finally stalling.

Using my improved fue with.three parts of formal per thousand parts of gasoline, the following results were noted:

1. The starting was improved to a remarkable degree.

2. The choker could be pushed in as far as it would go during the entire time the engine was running even though the weather was cold and no back-firing occurred. This signifies that the ignition occurred with a thinner mixture of gasoline andair when the ignition accelerator is present in the mixture than when it is not.

3. The machine could be slowed downso that it just creeped along without jolting' and stalling. .This indicates thatthe ignition'occurswith a very slight spark as the magneto gives only a very small spark when the car is running slowly.

Experiments carried out in cold weather on a Ford sedan, 1924 model gave the following results:

1. Whenusing straight gasoline the engine could only be started with great difliculty.

2. The engine could not be throttled down to less than ten miles per hour without badly jolting and stalling.

Using gasoline containing three parts of formal per thousand parts of the gasoline, it is noted that,

and

1. The starting is improved'remarkably 2. The engine could be throttled down to less than five miles without any joltingor stalling.

Experiments were carried out using my improved fuel on a Lincoln touring car, 1925 model. These experiments did not include starting the engine with the improved fuel but the fuel was tried out after the engine had been started. Using straight gasoline it was noted that:

1. The fume from the exhaust was so strong and disagreeable that it made persons unaccustomed'thereto ill.

2. The machine began to jolt when it was slowed down to less than five miles per hour.

Using gasoline containing three parts of formal per thousand parts of gasoline, the following were noted:

1. The fiuue from the exhaust lost its usual strong disagreeable odor. A person could hold his face in front of the mufller without ill effects.

2. The machine could be slowed down to about 2.5 miles per hour without jolting. The machine crept along quietly without any jolting.

3. The use of. the improved fuel resulted in an increased mileage of about 10%.

By using equal quantities of the straight gasoline and the improved fuel a 10% in? crease of ter. I

Other members of the dialkyl ether series were tested using the same proportions of the ignition accelerators to gasoline as mentioned above.

Specific examples of improved fuel are as follows:

1. Gasoline 10 gals- Formal or methylal, sometimes ooH. Dimethyl acetal, oH.cH 4 oz. 8

Of the above series, the best resultsare obta ned when formal, ether, 1s used. The other members-of the semileage results when using the latmethylene dimethyl ries give satisfactory results but the preferred ignition accelerator to be used in in im roved fuel is formal. 1

he glycol compounds can also be used, especially the gylcol ethers, for example, gycol methylene acetal,

and the glycol diethyl ether,

CHr-OCIHs AHHCQH;

The halogen substituted dialkyl ethers including the halogen substituted glycols may in some cases be substituted for the above set forth compound.

he dialkyl ethers are admirably ada ted to be blended with gasoline since they ave relatively low boiling points. For example, formal boils at 42 C. Its specific gravity is .855. The dialkyl ethers may be obtained by mixing aldehyde and alcohol in the preswith more perfect combustion mechanism.

My experiments have also indicated that the beneficial results flowing from the use of the dialkyl ethers, especially formal, are much more noticeable when using ordinary gasgline than when high test gasoline is use Summarizing, the following advantages are obtained by the use ofthe compounds set forth:

1. The starting of the car especially in cold weather is greatl improved.

2. These compoun s prevent or at least greatly lessen the knocking.

3. The car runs smoothly without jolting.

4. The improved fuel cleans the old soot or carbon from the fouled engine cylinders.

5. The deposition of carbon is totally prevented or at least greatly minimized.

6. Increased mileage is obtained.

7. A car may be driven more slowly without jolting when using the improved fuel than when using straight gasoline.

8. No poisonous effects are obtained when using compounds of the character set forth as the combustion products of the same are substantially harmless under ordinary conditions, for example, the combustion products of formal are carbon dioxid and water.

9. These compounds remain mixed with gasoline indefinitely without any blending agents.

10. The ignition of the fuel mixture containin the dialkyl ethers takes place with a very ight spark.

11. The usual disagreeable sickening odor of the exhaust draft is totally removed or at least eatly minimized.

It is o vious that compounds of the character set forth may be added to hydrocarbons in general. While in the examples given only gasoline has been used, the gasoline may be substituted by a mixture of heavy hydrocarbon and gasoline. It is also obvious that a substantial proportion of benzol may be added to the hydrocarbon where this is desirable. The alcohol fuels are also improved by the use of the compounds set forth. It is not desired that my invention be limited to any specific type of fuel but protection is desired on the use of the compounds set forth in connection with the use of fuel hydrocarbon or fuel hydrocarbon derivatives under which term alcohol is included.

It is to be noted that in all the examples set forth the percentage of ignition acceler ator is relatively small. Usually the latter is less than one half per cent although it may rise to one per cent or even somewhat greater. In my fuel compounds of the character set forth especially formal and compounds of this series are used in small quantities as a catalyzer or accelerator of ignition and it is for this reason, that it is not necessary to use large quantities of these compounds.

The term, dialkyl ether as used in the claims excludes mono-alkyl ethers such as diethyl ether. A dialkyl ether contains two alkoxy radicals.

I claim 1. A motor fuel containing a hydrocarbon and a small proportion of a dialkyl ether having a boiling point below 104 C. adapted to accelerate ignition.

2. A motor fuel containing a light hydrocarbon and a small proportion of a dialkyl ether having a boiling point below 104 C. adapted to accelerate ignition.

3. A motor fuel containing gasoline and a small proportion of a dialkyl ether having a boiling point below 104 C. adapted to ac celerate ignition.

4. A motor fuel containing a hydrocarbon and formal adapted to accelerate ignition.

5. A motor fuel containing a light hydrocarbon and formal adapted to accelerate ignition.

6. A motor fuel containing gasoline and formal adapted to accelerate ignition.

7. A motor fuel containing a. dialkyl ether 10. A motor fuel having as its principal having a boiling point below 104 C. adaptconstituent, a light hydrocarbon, and a small ed to accelerate ignition. proportion of a dialkyl ether adapted to 110- 1( 8. A motor fuel containing formal adaptcelerate ignition.

ed to accelerate ignition. In testimony whereof he hereunto afiixes 9. A motor fuel containing a light hydrohis signature.

carbon and less than 12% of a dialkyl ether. YASUJURO NIKAIDO. 

